Merle E. Rohlfs, 89, of Hartsburg, passed away
January 24, 2013 at Mason City Area Nursing Home
surrounded by his loving family.

Visitation will be Monday, January 28, 2013 from 5-7
PM at Holland Barry & Bennett Funeral Home in
Lincoln. Funeral services will be 10 AM Tuesday,
January 29, 2013 also at the funeral home. Burial
will follow in Hartsburg Union Cemetery.

Merle was born July 29, 1923 in the Hartsburg-Emden
area, the son of John H. and Margaret (Menssen)
Rohlfs. He married Ruth Jones on October 4, 1945.

He proudly served his country in the United States
Air Force, 452nd bombardment group, 731st squadron.
He was a waist gunner on a B-17-G flying fortress
("Hell's Cargo") plane and was shot down over
Germany on March 6, 1944. He was a prisoner of war
for 15 months with 10,000 others and survived the
death march.

Merle worked as a rural mail carrier in Hartsburg
for many years. He was a lifetime member of the
Hartsburg, IL. American Legion.